I
nner Revolution is the sharpest and snappiest pop album Adrian has made since his debut. Following the formula of those classic ELO albums that matched modern studio production with Beatlesque hooks, this album strikes upon a patch of pure pop gold at the onset and never stops. Where Adrian had earlier engaged in a little wish fulfillment with a cover of The Traveling Wilburys’ “Not Alone Anymore,” Inner Revolution reads for almost all of the parts: Roy Orbison (“I Walk Alone”), Jeff Lynne (“Big Blue Sun”) and George Harrison (“Birds”). Much more than The Bears (whose Chris Arduser appears here), this album delivers on the promise of avant pop that has always been in Adrian’s grasp, minus the noisiness and noodling that pop fans had to slog through on his other albums. In fact, Atlantic really dropped the ball on not promoting this album better; there were potential hits aplenty on here, yet releasing “Standing In The Shadow” as the single is unspeakably stupid since it’s the worst song on here. Fortunately, Inner Revolution is ripe for rediscovery. If you’ve read reviews of Belew’s work that have referenced The Beatles and art pop in the same breath, only to discover that the songs fell short of expectations, take heart: Inner Revolution is that magical amalgam realized.